Friends of Cranbourne

Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne is a vibrant group of more than 600 members who share a love of Australian plants and nature, and raise funds to support the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne.

Being a Friend gives you a special involvement in the ongoing development of Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne through the award-winning Australian Garden and the conservation of the important remnant bushland and its many creatures. Friends may also participate in the following groups and activities:

Growing Friends propagate and grow plants for sale and use in the Gardens Education program.

Herbarium Collectors gather and process plant material to preserve for the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne and the National Herbarium at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

Seed Collectors collect and conserve seeds for use in the Friends Nursery.

Botanical Illustrators work together, exhibit their works in local galleries, hold morning teas with guest speakers, and run botanical art classes.

Botanical Fabricators work with fabrics themed on native plants.

Friends In Focus have fun, learn about photography, take photos and enhance and practise photographic skills.

Activities (garden visits, tours, talks, workshops and other social activities) are offered throughout the year, advertised through the website and our quarterly newsletter, Naturelink.

Benefits

Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne receive the following benefits:

our quarterly newsletter, Naturelink

QuickLink online

discount rates for both Melbourne and Cranbourne Friends activities

15% discount on plant sales at RBG Cranbourne

Friends-only plant sales

10% discount at The Gardens Shop (Melbourne and Cranbourne and the Boon Wurrung Cafe

Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne belong to the Association of Friends of Botanic Gardens.

Autumn 2015

The committee would also like to establish an archive of the history of the Friends with the view to writing a history of the last 25 years of the Friends’ involvement in the RBG Cranbourne and the Australian Garden.

Do you have memories of special people who are no longer members?

Do you have special memories of your time with the Friends?

Do you have photos or documents that you would be willing to share?

We will be delighted to receive any information—historical photos, audiovisual materials or text, or your reminiscences in any format.

Contact us

Science

Horticulture

Support

Shop

Learn

Science

Conservation

Victoria's flora and fungi are under increasing threat from climate change, environmental weeds, agriculture and urbanisation. Climate change will especially impact on plants restricted to the coldest environments on mountain summits, which are likely to lose their only suitable habitat. At the Royal Botanic Gardens, studies of taxonomy, distribution, population genetics, propagation, translocation and seed banking all contribute to the conservation of Victoria’s and Australia's plants and fungi.

Weeds and biosecurity

Protecting our rare and threatened species

In Victoria, there are nearly 700 native species of plants (of approximately 3,200) that are considered to be threatened and many others are rare. The RBG plays a lead role in programs to conserve these endangered species in order to stabilise or increase populations in their natural habitat. The RBG is particularly involved in the conservation of native terrestrial orchids. Victoria is a 'hotspot' for orchid diversity, with 23 per cent of Australia's orchid species in just 3 per cent of the land area. Most of the native orchid species found in Victoria are terrestrial, and at least a third occur nowhere else.

Horticulture

Plant Collections

Botanic gardens throughout the world play a significant role in helping scientists and the public understand the evolution and history of plants, their present day uses as well as what the future may hold for plants in natural environments. Across our two locations Melbourne and Cranbourne, our experienced horticulture teams manage 45 plant collections as well as a significant area of precious bushland at Cranbourne. All of our collections feature plant labels which show each plant's scientific name comprised of a genus and species.

Sustainable Management

Our horticultural and environmental research is focused on responding to future challenges such as water availability and changing climatic conditions and looking at how these may impact on plant and landscape conservation within the Gardens.

Environmental Management

At both Cranbourne and Melbourne our land Management teams focus on irrigation management, finding alternate water sources, water quality and biodiversity of the lakes system; reducing weeds, protecting plants against pests and diseases and managing soils.

Water conservation

We are constantly striving to improve irrigation efficiency, stormwater treatment, lake ecosystems and water quality in the lake system. Recently the Working Wetlands project was completed at RBG Melbourne, reducing reliance on potable water by 40%.

How we garden in botanic gardens, how you garden at home and how we all garden as a community has big impacts on the biodiversity and sustainability of urban Australia. The Australian Garden at Cranbourne is designed to showcase how native plants can make a spectacular and waterwise home garden. There is an Australian plant suitable for virtually any situation in your garden, from tall trees to ground covers, aquatic plants to those growing in low light or in full sun. Australian plants attract native birds and butterflies, and brighten up your garden with wonderful seasonal colour. Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens to find inspiration and great tips for using Australian native plants at home.

Support

Help the Gardens grow

The Royal Botanic Gardens has a special place in the hearts and minds of all Victorians. The Gardens has played an important role in the cultural development of Melbourne and can continue to flourish with the help of passionate individuals. There are many ways to get involved with the Gardens and we value any level of support, whether you are a friend or a donor, a member of our Director’s Circle or one of our volunteers. There are also ways to honour those you love by dedicating a tree or a bench within the Garden of your choice.

Shop

Many people share the Gardens with those they love and some visitors choose to mark a significant occasion by dedicating a tree or a bench to someone special. In the Gardens you’ll notice each bench has a dedication plaque featuring a favourite quote or the recognition of an anniversary, achievement or occasion.

Shop

Shop at the Gardens

The Gardens Shop offers a unique opportunity to support the work of the Gardens and share your love of the Gardens with your friends and family. We stock a wide range of gardening, eco-living and horticulture inspired products that will delight gardeners of all ages. Proceeds from every purchase go towards supporting the Gardens in its mission to advance the knowledge and enjoyment of plants and to foster their conservation.

Shop online

Supporting local artists

The Gardens Shop has teamed up with a group of talented botanical artists to create an exclusive range of products to support the Cranbourne Collection botanical art exhibition. This range of beautiful giftware featuring detail from the original artworks is Australian made and will be available for a limited time only. The Cranbourne Collection will be in store from 1 July.

Learn

Hands-on education

The Royal Botanic Gardens at Melbourne and Cranbourne offers a rich learning environment for students of all ages and abilities. Our Education Services team develops adaptive, strategic curriculum based programs to assist teachers and provide an enjoyable and valuable learning experience for students from kindergarten to university. Each education program is designed to support teachers in achieving the Victorian Essential Learning Standards and is delivered by a qualified teacher.